When to measure blood pressure accurately?

Video content is professionally consulted by MSc, BSCK II Pham Tuyet Trinh, Cardiology Center - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital

When you have high blood pressure, whether it is high or low, it can lead to extremely dangerous medical complications. Regularly checking blood pressure by measuring blood pressure properly at home will help people to monitor their own health and prevent more effectively.
In fact, many people live with persistent high blood pressure without realizing it until they are hospitalized for cardiovascular events. At this time, it is too late to actively prevent hypertension. Compared with high blood pressure, low blood pressure in the short term does not lead to emergency complications such as cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infarction...
However, low blood pressure can also cause complications. Equally dangerous, because when the patient has repeated low blood pressure, the function of the nervous system will decline, and the body will not adjust in time to provide nutrients to organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys. ,.... causing damage to these organs.
Properly measuring blood pressure is a way to control your own blood pressure, especially for people with a history of blood pressure disease, the elderly are at risk of hypertension. Therefore, based on the results on the blood pressure meter can contribute to controlling the sudden increase/decrease in blood pressure to avoid the risk of complications caused by blood pressure such as cerebrovascular accident, stroke. .. by adjusting the diet, living for reasonable.
Psychologically, knowing the blood pressure measurement techniques and applying them regularly at home will no longer feel anxious about the pressure of illness and be motivated to better control blood pressure.
Normally, blood pressure will tend to be higher in the morning and lower in the evening. The highest number of blood pressure will mark many different peaks, that is, every time we work hard or think, stress, and then the body will adjust to a state of balance. If the body is not able to do this, measure the blood pressure properly but always stay high or low, that is a real medical condition.
Because blood pressure often fluctuates, knowledge of when to measure blood pressure and correct application of blood pressure measurement guidelines is extremely necessary. To conclude that a person has high blood pressure, low blood pressure or normal blood pressure, it is necessary to base on blood pressure values ​​of many days, many different times in a day. After properly measuring blood pressure, it is necessary to record blood pressure readings, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and a diary will make home health monitoring convenient. than.
Proper home blood pressure measurement is usually recommended in the morning after waking up and before getting out of bed. If you are required to monitor your blood pressure several times a day, you should choose fixed times that are easy to remember and also easy to compare. However, blood pressure measurement techniques are performed after the body has been rested for at least 15 minutes with the mind completely relaxed. Absolutely do not perform blood pressure measurement after a full meal or when too hungry, too tired, needing to urinate, after smoking or drinking coffee or in a state of stress, anger.
Proper blood pressure measurement can be done while sitting or lying down with a relaxed position and provided that the position of the monitor on the upper arm or on the wrist is level with the heart. At this time, the patient should sit on a chair with back support, hands on the table or lying on his back, hands down to his body; At the same time, do not wear clothes that are too tight or too tight, which can artificially increase blood pressure. It is best to measure 2 times in a row, 5 minutes apart, and take the average between measurements. Measure both arms at the same time and choose the hand with the higher blood pressure reading.
In short, knowing about the dangers of blood pressure diseases as well as knowing the correct time of day to measure blood pressure is essential for comprehensive health protection.